MG Monday: Guest Review: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Title: Stargirl
Series: Stargirl
Author: Jerry Spinelli
Publisher: Orchard
Publication Date: 4 Jan 2007

Source: Own

Thanks to Danni Year 12 for writing the review for me.


Synopsis: From GoodReads
Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.
Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal.
 
Review:
Some may say that Stargirl is a very complex book to read but it is just taking the personalities and stereotypes of young people to an extreme level, which I believe makes us more tolerant to society. Stargirl in herself is difficult to understand as a person but isn’t everyone like that?

 From when she first arrives at Mica Area High School, everyone is intrigued by her as she is so different from the norm. Catching the attention of Hilary Kimble, who loves having attention and despises Stargirl for taking the attention from her. However, her mysteries attract Leo Borlock, an average teenager. Leo just wants to be left alone, blending into the background but is thrust into the limelight after he begins dating Stargirl. However, he eventually decides that this relationship and repercussions from it are too much for him to handle.

Throughout the beginning of the book, Leo’s best friend, Kevin tries to knock Leo out of his stupor with Stargirl. Convincing him to encourage her to appear on their TV show, “Hot Seat”. Eventually this does take place with disastrous results.


The story of Stargirl is quite bizarre and confusing (I had to read the book several times before I understood her and the story!!) However, I think we can all relate to the hidden messages in this book. The different ways of coping with bullying, the feeling of falling in love for the first time and the heartbreak when it doesn’t work out.

The parts of the book where Leo visits Archie and Señor Saguaro, I find incredibly irrelevant to the story. Although they can give us a little insight into the character of Stargirl; her background and why she acts the way she does. Stargirl’s pet rat Cinnamon is ultimately the force that brings Stargirl and Leo together. However, I believe he is a way of Stargirl expressing her individuality. I believe by reading this book, we become more tolerant to others in society, help us to become better people and understand young people in a better way.

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